Timing is everything

[handcrafted]

I have a 1966 Ford 3502 (also known as a Ford 750 hoe if what I've researched is correct) but I am for certain about the tractor being a 3502 and the front loader has a I9-423 ford tag on it's left front arm and my hoe reach is 14'. So anyhow what I'm experiencing is a very hard to start 3 cylinder gas engine and as you can see in this picture the distributor has been maxed out on its adjustment and even slightly crushed the vacuum advance unit up against the carburetor. So my question is this, on say a chevy 350 that jumped time I have advanced the plug wires around the distributor one spot and worked my way around back to the beginning first plug wire that i removed and managed to get the truck fired back up, get to the shop and do a timing gears and chain. Have any of you ever heard of this little trick and do you think it would work on a 3 cylinder. I don't see what it could hurt but then again it never hurts to ask. I've got good points and gap, carb does have a slight leak which indicates to me that the float needs adjustment and am on that task tomorrow, I've twice now pinched off the fuel line and let her run dry and still the next day need lots of ether and she's really hard to start. Any thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated, thanks all
Update 091915 20:21
So I've seen a lot of views but no response. First off I have not adjusted my timing it is where it has been since I bought the tractor a couple of weeks ago, and I did try rotating the plug wires one spot both directions on the distributor and the most I got was a back fire through the exhaust, so I am getting fire just this ole gal don't want to start. And I have returned the firing order to specs

 

[paulfun9]

With the distributor that far out to begin with My concern would be what the former owner had wrong, coupled with a possible timing jump now. In this case I would try no tricks just go straight to making it right.

After posting and reading yours again I think I misunderstood your question If You don't feel the timing jumped and the dist is that far off from the previous owner. You could possibly be dealing with the timing just being off a little, problem is that simply moving the wires wont be enough to correct the problem. Your moving of the wires in any direction must accompany movement of the dist to get it aligned where it should be as well.

 

[handcrafted]

thank you paulfun9 the problem I see is that as can be seen form the picture I posted the distributor is in it's most forward adjusted point and up against the carb ??? hmmm puzzling this pictuer is yoda would say
I am going to dwell into this further in the a/m/. thank you for your response I do agree with the points you made

 

[paulfun9]

Simply put the #1 cyl on TDC of the compression stroke (both valves closed) set the distributer to is center of adjustment and then where the rotor is facing will now be the #1 location for the plug wires. Once this is done setting the timing with a light will be easy and if the hard start has anything to do with your timing the problem will be solved.

One thing I noticed is you make no mention of what the timing is actually at in degrees? Do you have a timing light and know where all the markings are to do it correctly?